The family of Daniel Prude has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Rochester, charging Police Chief La’Ron Singletary and the seven officers suspended in connection with Prude’s death in Rochester.
The suite was filed on behalf of Prude’s estate. It charges that actions taken by the officers led to Prude’s death on March 23 after he stopped breathing while in their custody a week earlier.
Officers had been called to Jefferson Avenue because Prude was having a mental health crisis. Body camera footage showed the officers detaining Prude, who at first complied but then became agitated. They placed a “spit sock” hood over his head and held him to the pavement, at which he stopped breathing. He never regained consciousness and died in the hospital.
The suit says the city and the RPD covered up Prude’s death and calls that “standard operating procedure” for the department. The suit says it’s the policy and practice of the city to condone officers using excessive force and to lie about it in official paperwork and sworn testimony.
The suit is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
It was filed the same day Chief Singletary announced his retirement, and his command team retired or announced they were returning to former ranks.